Spices and market chaos, in a home kitchen. This market visit with home-chef Lubna starts with steaming chai and ends with you cooking a full menu of breads, rice, and mains.

I love how Lubna tailors the menu to what you want to learn, from kebabs to rich curries, and how she explains the spice logic so you can repeat it at home. I also like that the class feels personal, with Lubna’s family and sometimes her husband Sheikh joining the meal and conversation. One consideration: there is no hotel pickup, so you’ll need to get yourself to the home near Ashram metro.

Here are the moments that matter most, and why they’re worth your time in Delhi.

Key highlights worth planning around

• Local market shopping with a home chef for ingredients you can actually find later, not just a tourist snack run.
• Spice technique coaching, with practical tips on how blends behave in the pan and why one dish tastes right while another doesn’t.
• A full, plated meal including 3 mains, 3 bread types, and 1 rice dish, not a short demo and goodbye.
• Diet-friendly flexibility through real recipe adjustments, including examples like using oats for a wheat, dairy, and citrus restriction.
• A family-table finish where you eat what you cooked, often with Lubna’s family nearby to keep it warm and easy-going.

New Delhi cooking class with Lubna, the market first

This is one of those Delhi experiences where the food starts before you touch a knife. You meet Lubna for a short ride to a local market, shop for what you need, then return to her home kitchen for a hands-on class that lasts about 3 hours.

What makes it especially fun is the mix of street-smart shopping and kitchen skills. You’re not just copying a recipe, you’re learning why spices, fats, and timings work the way they do in Indian cooking. That means the meal you make at the end feels earned, and the skills you take home are actually useful.

Also, there’s a real sense of home here. Lubna’s place is a haveli style home built in 1974, with lots of greenery around it, and the rhythm of the session stays relaxed. It’s also English instruction, so you can ask questions and get answers without slowing the class down.

Finding Lubna’s home near Ashram metro (and what to expect once you arrive)

Getting there is simple if you follow the landmarks. Your meeting point is A-6 Friends Colony East, New Delhi 110065, and the house is behind the HP petrol pump. It’s about a 3-minute walk from Ashram metro station, Gate No. 3.

You’re looking for a house with a red slanting roof and white walls, on a quiet dead-end street. Once you’re there, the vibe flips quickly from Delhi traffic energy to kitchen routine.

This matters because the class itself is short. In a 3-hour experience, the less time you spend figuring out logistics, the more time you have to cook, taste, and learn. And since there’s no hotel pickup, arriving on time helps you start cooking without stress.

The market visit: spices, produce, and how it changes your cooking

The market stop is about getting you close to how locals actually shop. It’s only about 10 minutes away from typical tourist routes, and you’ll see stalls with fresh produce, aromatics, and big color on display. Some sessions also include street food if the shop is open, which adds a playful extra layer.

You don’t just wander either. Lubna guides you through what matters for the dishes you’re making, so you learn what to look for when you’re buying ingredients later. In one example, Lubna helped a cook find spices that are hard to get overseas, which is exactly the kind of practical win that makes this worthwhile.

A nice detail from the experience is the way the market energy can vary by day. One session happened during Diwali shoppers flow, so the timing brought even more action and shopping chatter. That kind of day-to-day variation is real life, not staged tourism.

One caution: if you’re thinking of converting your session to a breakfast-only style, note that the market visit would not be possible with that option. If the market matters to you, stick with the standard cooking class format.

Chai welcome and spice lessons you can use the next day

Before you cook, you get a warm start with a cup of chai and a chance to set the tone. Then the lesson focuses on the backbone of Indian flavor: how spices shape aroma, heat, and balance.

Lubna’s approach is hands-on and clear. Many people specifically call out that the instructions are easy to follow, and that they learned spice techniques they didn’t know before. It’s not just, add this and stir, it’s more like, here’s what the spice mix does in the pan and how to control it.

That’s where the “home chef” advantage shows up. Lubna pulls from family recipes, including recipes passed down from her mother-in-law, then adapts them for different dietary needs. You may hear about her culinary background through conversation, including a story about hosting a young girl from the UK after she won the contest Take Away My Takeaway.

Cooking your menu: 3 mains, breads, and rice, with flexible dish choices

This class is designed so you leave with a full meal you actually made. The included menu covers 3 main dishes, 3 bread types, and 1 rice dish, plus you eat everything you prepare.

The menu can change depending on what you ask for in advance. Lubna encourages you to message on WhatsApp after booking so she can tailor the session to your interests and dietary preferences. Some people also report being asked what they want to cook a few days ahead, so plan to send your dish ideas early.

Here are examples of dishes that show up across sessions, so you can picture the range:

• Rogan Josh and other rich curries
• Kebabs in both veg and chicken styles
• Bread pakora and samosas for snacks
• Chicken biryani and paneer masala
• Aloo chaat, lentil dhal, and potato patties
• Paneer nihari, kadhi pakoda, and mutton stew

The practical advantage of this wide menu is simple: you can choose dishes that match your spice comfort level and what you enjoy eating. If you want the classics, you can go that route. If you want to learn beyond the most famous Indian dishes, you can ask for those options too.

Bread-making and the small techniques that make a big difference

Bread is part of what makes this class feel like a real cooking experience, not just curry practice. Since 3 bread types are included, you’ll get repetition and a better understanding of dough handling and cooking surfaces.

Some sessions include breads like chapaties or paratha, and you might also make snack breads such as items that involve frying. The key takeaway is technique. Even if you don’t remember every exact ingredient, learning how dough texture changes and how bread cooks on heat will help you repeat it at home.

If you’re a beginner, bread practice is a confidence builder. If you’re experienced, it’s a chance to refine your approach, especially with guidance on timing and consistency. Either way, bread-making adds a hands-on layer that most short classes skip.

Lunch at the family table, plus the extra conversation factor

When dishes are ready, you sit down and eat what you cooked. The experience includes eating the meal you prepare, and the atmosphere is relaxed, family-style, and friendly.

This is one of the big reasons people love it: you’re not hurried out right after the last pan gets cleaned. Conversations naturally happen while you eat, and Lubna’s family may join to celebrate your cooking. Some sessions also include Lubna’s husband Sheikh, which adds that extra layer of local warmth.

There’s also a practical benefit to the meal format. You get to taste dishes in the exact way they’re meant to be eaten, then connect those flavors to what you did earlier in the kitchen. That is how learning sticks.

One more note: if you have time after the class, you can take a short walk in the nearby neighborhood outside the main tourist circuit. It’s not required for the class to work, but it can help you feel how Delhi life moves beyond the headlines.

Dietary needs: how Lubna adapts recipes in real terms

Dietary flexibility is a major selling point here, and it’s not theoretical. Lubna adjusts her cooking to fit different restrictions, and you should share them before the class so she can plan your menu.

There’s a standout real example: a guest who could not consume wheat, dairy, or citrus stayed with Lubna, and she created dishes using oats as the main ingredient. The guest was so impressed that they wrote down the recipes, saying their life improved thanks to the skills.

So if you’re vegetarian, or you avoid specific ingredients, this class can still be a strong option. Just be direct with your needs. Message Lubna on WhatsApp after booking and say what you avoid and what you’re comfortable with.

Price and value: what $43 gets you in a 3-hour home setting

At $43 per person for about 3 hours, the value is in the workload and the meal. You’re not paying for a presentation. You’re paying for hands-on cooking plus ingredients plus a full plate meal with 3 mains, breads, and rice, and tea or water.

That balance is important if you compare it to other food experiences in big cities. Many options focus on tasting, or on one dish only, or on a demo where you do little in the kitchen. Here, you’re actively making multiple dishes and then eating the result.

And because it’s only one class per day, your time tends to be protected. That matters for attention, questions, and the feeling that you are not being rushed through.

One small trade-off to keep in mind is that you cover your own extra costs like metro fares or ride-hailing. The market visit itself is part of the experience, but you might still spend a little getting to the meeting point if you’re not already nearby.

Who should book this cooking class (and who might not)

This is ideal if you want:

• A hands-on Delhi food experience that teaches spice logic, not just recipes
• A local home setting with a warm pace and family interaction
• A real market component that helps you learn what ingredients to buy

It might be less ideal if:

• You strongly prefer guided big-city sights over cooking and eating at home
• You need hotel pickup, since none is included
• You want a market visit but are also trying to switch to the breakfast-only format, because the market would not be possible in that option

If you like cooking but hate touristy food stops, this fits your style. If you’re new to Indian food, it’s also a friendly starting point because Lubna’s explanations focus on why flavors work.

Quick practical tips before you go

A couple things can make your session smoother.

Send your preferences early. If you know you want Rogan Josh, kebabs, samosas, biryani, or paneer-based dishes, tell Lubna ahead of time on WhatsApp. If you have dietary restrictions, be specific, and include what you can eat.

Bring a curious mindset. This isn’t just about finishing dishes, it’s about learning how spices behave. When you taste something and it surprises you, ask what changed, because that’s usually where the best learning happens.

And plan your arrival. Since the meeting point is near Ashram metro and there’s no pickup, give yourself a buffer to find the red-roof, white-walled house behind the HP petrol pump.

Should you book Lubna’s New Delhi cooking class?

Yes, if you want an authentic Indian cooking experience in a real Delhi home, with a market stop and a full meal you cook yourself. The strongest reason to book is the combination of market shopping plus hands-on cooking plus a sit-down family-table meal, all in a focused 3-hour window.

I’d especially recommend it if you care about learning how spices and techniques work, because Lubna teaches in a way that you can actually repeat at home. And if dietary needs are part of your planning, the evidence of real adaptations, like oat-based cooking, is a big reassurance.

Book it with confidence if you’re happy to meet at the home yourself and you’re excited to cook more than one dish. If that setup sounds like your kind of travel, you’ll likely leave with recipes, spice knowledge, and a Delhi memory that tastes like something you can recreate.

FAQ

What time does the cooking class start in New Delhi?

The class starts either at 11 AM or at 4 PM. Let Lubna know which time you prefer.

How long is the experience?

The cooking class and market visit take about 3 hours.

Is the market visit included?

Yes, the standard experience includes a local market trip before you return to cook. If you switch to a breakfast-making option, the market visit would not be possible.

What dishes are included in the meal?

You’ll prepare and eat 3 main dishes, 3 bread types, and 1 rice dish, along with tea or water.

Can the menu be adjusted for vegetarian or other dietary needs?

Yes. Lubna adapts recipes for different dietary requirements, and you should specify your needs so the menu can be tailored.

How do I find the meeting point?

Use the address A-6 Friends Colony East, New Delhi 110065. The home is behind the HP petrol pump, about a 3-minute walk from Ashram metro station, Gate No. 3, and it has a red slanting roof and white walls.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No, hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Is this experience private and in English?

It’s a private group experience, and the instructor speaks English. Wheelchair accessibility is also listed as available.